Morris, started the season with the Philadelphia 76ers where he averaged 6.9 points and 2.6 assists in 12 games before being waived on Nov. 20. The third-year player has career averages of 4.1 points, 1.6 assists and 1.1 rebounds in 79 games (17 starts) with the 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers. A Los Angeles native, Morris was the 41st overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Lakers out of the University of Michigan.

The 6’4” point guard played two seasons for the Wolverines, earning third team All Big-Ten honors as a sophomore with averages of 15.0 points, 6.7 assists and 4.0 rebounds.

Former No.1 Draft Pick, the immortal Kwame Brown, has been cut loose by the Sixers. From the press release (which only granted the cut a single phrase) and Delaware County Daily Times: “The Philadelphia 76ers today announced that they have signed free agent guards Elliot Williams and Lorenzo Brown. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed. […] In a related move, the Sixers have waived Kwame Brown and Darius Morris. […] Kwame Brown, who had yet to play this season while battling a right hamstring strain, is due $3 million. Morris, who averaged 6.9 points in 16.8 minutes in 12 appearances, will make $1.06 million. ‘Never a fun day to have to do that, but this is the stage we’re in,’ Sixers GM Sam Hinkie said on the roster moves. ‘We’ll continue to evaluate players and find ones that can help us move forward and find others on our radar that we can add to our group.'”

After the Lakers’ win over the Bobcats in Charlotte last Friday, Dwight Howard (above) discussed media and fan criticism and gave a detailed review of his adidas D Howard Light shoe in the Year of the Snake/CNY colorway. In the videos below, Steve Nash spoke about the differences in Lakers and Suns fast-break basketball; Darius Morris made a bold prediction about the Michigan Wolverines’ NCAA title chances; and Earl Clark talked about being a starter in Mike D’Antoni’s system.

After the whistle was blown, Blake Griffin pushed an airborne Darius Morris during Saturday night’s chippy Lakers/Clippers, leading Mike Brown to temporarily lose his mind. The Lakers’ coach is now asking the League to look into the incident a little closer. Reports the Daily News: “Whether the shove was blatant and, boom, or was just a little shove, when a guy is in the air, that’s a dangerous play,’ Brown said. ‘Nothing was called (on Griffin) and I wondered why. So I’m going to ask (the league) to review it mainly so I understand.’ Brown didn’t say he believed Griffin meant to harm Morris, but he said he was confused by the referees’ explanation of events. ‘I would like to know the league’s ruling on that after they watch it on tape to see, so I have a better understanding,’ he said. ‘What I was told, in a nutshell, is that its OK to push a guy in the air as long as he doesn’t get hurt, or it doesn’t look like he’s going to get hurt. So it’s a judgment call because the whistle clearly had been blown.’ Griffin upset the Lakers last season and during two exhibitions earlier this season because they believed he celebrates his dunks a little too excitedly and jumped on their backs while going after rebounds he clearly cannot get. Griffin did not apologize for Saturday’s play. ‘All last year, if I ever kept going after the whistle (stuff happened),’ Griffin said when asked after the game about the shove on Morris. ‘I got told early in the season that was going to happen. It’s an unwritten rule. If you’re going after the whistle, be prepared.'”

Darius Morris had the unfortunate duty of having to guard Chris Paul for a solid portion of Saturday night’s Clippers-Lakers battle, and while that left embarrassed during multiple plays, Morris did impress on this one. Watch him end the first period in style above.

Yep, it’s another major L for the Lakers. Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, Darius Morris and Derek Fisher made a delightfully awkward appearance on the show “X-Factor” last night, with three of them performing as back-up dancers for 50-Cent.

Perhaps the toughest position to be in during this summer of uncertainty is that of an NBA rookie. Several draftees, including Derrick Williams, Darius Morris, Travis Leslie, and Trey Thompkins, are contemplating different ways to spend their time away from professional basketball. From the LA Times:

“The serious issue in the early days of the NBA lockout is that the recently selected draft picks are the most immediate and visible victims. If this were a normal summer, Lakers rookies Darius Morrisand Andrew Goudelock and Clippers rookies Trey Thompkinsand Travis Leslie would be working hard this week in practice sessions to get ready for the Summer League in Las Vegas, which had been scheduled to open on Friday. That’s where they would have received a platform of valuable exposure through NBA TV, and in front of a convention of NBA executives. And, likewise, teams could resume the evaluation process, say, the Clippers getting early information on how Leslie rates compared with Willie Warren, who is coming off his rookie season. Instead, some of the draftees are considering going back to college to work on finishing their degrees, holding basketball camps or putting themselves in areas where there are a lot of NBA players on hand.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Derrick Williams, who was the No. 2 overall pick from the University of Arizona, might very well end up doing all of the above. Williams was contemplating going back to summer school at Arizona to work on his bachelor’s degree, possibly in business, fulfilling a promise to his mother. He said he might ask for an advance from the trading card company, Panini America, that signed him to an exclusive deal, as well as maybe host camps in Tucson and in La Mirada, where he grew up.

‘If I do that, I ought to be good,’ Williams said. ‘If I need more, I can take out a line of credit or whatever, but it’s not like I’m going to need much.’

The players with major agencies obviously have more options at their disposal. Williams is represented by Landmark Sports Agency’s Rob Pelinka, who also handles Kobe Bryant and the Clippers’ Eric Gordon and Chris Kaman, and Thompkins has signed with the influential Arn Tellem of Wasserman Media Group.

‘I plan on going back home and working out at home for a few weeks and then coming back to Santa Monica and working out,’ said Thompkins, who played with Leslie at Georgia. ‘I’ll be on my own with the [WMG] trainers in Santa Monica that I was training with getting ready for the [draft] combine in Chicago.’

Potential overseas tours could be another source of income. Pelinka is in the early stages of putting together a tour of China, maybe featuring Bryant and enough players to fill two or three teams. Similarly, Wasserman Media Group is weighing China as an option, considering a multi-week tournament, the SportsBusiness Journal reported.

‘Hopefully, I would be able to do that, because I’ve never been out of the country and I think that would be the best thing for me,’ Williams told The Times last week.

Others are likely to stay closer to home. Leslie is planning on living with his family in the Atlanta area during the lockout, and Morris, of the Lakers, has an apartment in Los Angeles with his older brother.

‘There are a lot of NBA players here,’ said Morris, who went in the second round, at No. 41. ‘So I’ll definitely work on my game with them from time to time. But I’ll also get by myself and get a lot of shots up, doing the things that I feel like I need to do to prepare myself to capitalize on this opportunity.’

Of course, it often comes down to pleasing a certain influential family member. And the lockout is going to give Goudelock some time to do so. He plans on finishing his degree in sociology at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, in addition to playing in some pro-am leagues.

The Trail Blazers appear to be at a crossroads, of sorts. Aging veterans, seemingly with some gas left in the tank, and looming contract situations at positions such as point guard and center make this selection all the more important in terms of the future direction of the organization.

A bad pick here could possibly have dreaded long-lasting ramifications.

Case in point, Andre Miller is on the downside of what has to be considered a particularly solid career thus far. We’re not writing him off, mind you. That would be absurd, plain and simple, especially given the fact he’s been able to consistently run the show over the years. Bottom line: Miller is in the final year of his contract. The time has come to think about a back-up plan.

Another example is Marcus Camby. Love the guy, he’s a consummate professional. Always has been. Always will be. It is, however, worth mentioning that the big man has been bitten by the injury bug on numerous occasions in the past, too many to count. Camby hasn’t played an 82-game regular season since entering the League. The risk factor must be taken into account.

What to do?

In terms of the floor generals still available, there’s plenty to choose from.

In the middle, Greg Oden is in the mix, of course, it’s tough to give up on him considering how much is already invested. That said, we’ve come close to reaching decision time and staring at us, square in the face, is Donatus Montiejanus. And the Lithuanian is an intriguing prospect.

Montiejanus brings plenty to the table, mind you. He’s a versatile lefty with size, a 7-footer who tips the scales at 225-plus pounds. He has a nice touch from out on the perimeter, and from time to time, has been known bang down underneath the basket. There’s a lot to like about him.

Nevertheless, we digress. Point guard is the play for us, can’t pass up this kid.

With the 20th pick of the 2011 SLAMonline Mock Draft, the Portland Trail Blazers select…

Darius Morris from Michigan.

The prevailing wisdom here is, Morris won’t have to come in and be a major contributor right away. If he’s an attentive understudy to Miller, a factor we’re banking on due in large part to him having a high basketball IQ, Morris could be the ready to assume added responsibility sooner rather than later. We don’t look at him as project. Morris is merely another piece to the puzzle.

For those searching for a little background on Morris, look no further. The 6-4 guard enjoyed a two-year stint as a starter for the Wolverines. Last season, as a sophomore, he took his game to the next level and averaged 15.2 points, 6.8 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game.

Accordingly, Michigan made a run in the NCAA Tournament, falling one game short of the Sweet 16. Essentially, Morris played his way into the first round of this mock draft.

In terms of his future, his upside appears to be limitless, especially under the guidance of a veteran such as Miller. The similarities between the two many, striking some might say.

Both are born and bred in Los Angeles, having attended high schools that are, remarkably enough, less than 15 miles apart. Miller went to Verbum Dei. Morris attended Windward.

Both are well-known for being more physical than your average distributor.

Both are not often mistaken for someone who possesses one of the most lethal strokes from the outside, although Morris appears to be a bit more polished now than Miller ever was.

Both are unselfish. Pass-first is a motto they share. Assists trump buckets.

Both are aggressive by nature and can to get the basket when called upon.

Turns out, the decision to draft Morris was one those proverbial no-brainers.

We feel good about the pick. Under the tutelage of Miller, all signs point to Morris having the potential to carve out his out own niche and enjoy a productive career in the NBA.

SLAMonline had the chance to sit down with Darius Morris over the weekend and ask him about how things have been going in anticipation of the 2011 NBA Draft on June 23 in Newark, New Jersey. He also spoke candidly about the possibility of being drafted by Portland.

SLAM: What’s good, you ready to take the next step, ready for the League?

Darius Morris: I’ve worked hard to get to this point. Life is surreal, I’m blessed to be in this position. I’m about to realize one of my biggest dreams. It’s crazy. I’m ready though.

SLAM: Looks like you are ready for the NBA, the draft gurus have you pegged as a first-round pick. You even have a nickname. Heard that Demetrius Calip, a former Michigan Wolverine, started calling you D-Mo. What’s up that?

DM: Yeah, D.C. told me that I needed to have a brand, that’s where the D-Mo thing comes from. It just happened, the name has stuck with me ever since. At Michigan, the fans used to chant “D-Mo, D-Mo, D-Mo,” whenever I was on the floor. My mom says my name is Darius, but I can’t tell people to stop calling me D-Mo. It works, I guess.

SLAM: Enough with the off-the-court stuff. How about on the court, have you had the opportunity to take part in any pre-draft workouts?

DM: Yeah, I worked out for the Pacers with Larry Bird sitting courtside. I couldn’t believe Larry Bird was right there, watching me, evaluating me. I worked out for the Rockets, Heat, Wizards and New York Knicks too.

SLAM: What type of mindset must you have in that type of situation?

DM: I didn’t know what to expect at first. Then, you get used to how things work and build confidence. It’s like a long job interview. You have to impress your potential employers at all times.

SLAM: Do you have any other pre-draft workouts coming up?

DM: I’ve got a West Coast trip lined up with Oklahoma City, Denver and Portland.

SLAM: Speaking of the Trail Blazers, how would you feel if they drafted you with pick No. 21?

DM: Going to a team with an established point guard like Andre Miller would be a great fit for me. Someone like Andre Miller has a lot to offer. Not many young players have the chance to learn from someone like him. For Andre Miller to take underneath his wing, if things turn out that way, I think it would be a bonus, a great situation.

SLAM: You guys have the same type of game, heard that before?

DM: Yeah, people say we have a lot in common. People say I remind them of Andre Miller. I’m honored to mentioned in the same sentence as him.

SLAM: If things don’t end up materializing in Portland, and a different team ends up drafting you, what can we expect from Darius Morris during his rookie season?

DM: Some guys get thrown into the fire in their first year, others guys get time to develop. I’m ready for whatever comes my way. I’ve put in the work. I’m prepared. I can’t wait for my name to be called.

With the April 24 early entry deadline for the 2011 NBA Draft rapidly approaching, college players from around the country are on the clock contemplating on the biggest decision of their life. The following are some of the latest prospects to have made their decisions over the last few hours:

With Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor having announced their intentions of returning to Kansas next season and the Morris twins declaring for the draft last week, all the attention has turned to Josh Selby. The freshman guard is now spending his second week away from school and at Impact Basketball in Las Vegas, where he has been working out and looking to decide whether or not to enter the draft. He missed yesterday’s team banquet and head coach Bill Self is expecting a decision “real soon.“

Darius Morris, starting PG for Windward sits down with Matt Rodriguez to chat about his senior season, his Michigan commitment, playing with Demar DeRozan and Euroleague star Brandon Jennings and much more.

On a completely non-related note, who else thinks Matt is the next Barbara Walters? I mean, just look at those hard hitting questions. And his GAP pullover is without a doubt the basketball version of Barbara’s pantsuits. Back to basketball, Darius has led his Windward squad to a top seed in the playoffs and is having a solid senior campaign, coming off a nagging injury. He’s also got a solid IQ on and off the court. His favorite quote serves notice:

“As expectations grow, I grow as an individual, which makes our team grow as a unit… so I love it. I love the adversity, I love the expectations from everybody.”

When Darius arrives at Michigan in August, the expectations will be high. Wolverine faithful are placing their hope in Morris to bring the program back to its storied past. Bask in the expectations, Darius.